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We love to hate traffic wardens but there is now a new concern for misbehaving motorists which may well significantly increase the number of fines issued.
We love to hate traffic wardens but there is now a new concern for misbehaving motorists which may well significantly increase the number of fines issued.
The debate around councils using road cameras to punish minor traffic offences has been well documented. But is this really such an outrageous initiative as a great deal of the hype suggests.
Cameras will allow local councils to penalise people for a number of indiscretions ranging from those who park in restricted areas, obstruct other road users, drive the wrong way down one-way streets, go through no entry signs and make illegal u-turns. Even parking more than 19 inches from a kerb can be picked up by a camera and trigger a fine of £60.
This move is expected to significantly increase the £3.5 billion a year which councils already make out of parking fines.
As you would expect councils are all for the new system, expecting it to produce fewer delays for motorists, consistent and evidence-based enforcement and a visible car crime deterrent. They say that video footage will both provide hard evidence against offenders and reduce the volume of challenged tickets.
Labelled by some as the "war on the motorist" (which seems to be an overreaction), there is plenty of opposition to the move. The main bone of contention is the fear that bad councils will turn the new system into a money-making scheme creating a surge in the number of fines.
Whichever way this goes I would urge local authorities to make sure their appeals process is fast and fair, and penalises only those that deserve it.
Others argue that CCTV is not really fit for purpose; designed to catch people breaking the law rather than deter them. There is also the question of validating the legitimacy of the ticket as CCTV images may show the offence but probably won't show if a sign was present and readable.
So there are lots of people up in arms with this radical move and plenty of concerns around the integrity of the new system. But the bottom line is, for law abiding road users this change won't make any difference. It's very simple, whatever the means of enforcement if you don't want to get caught don't break the rules and there isn't a problem.
These rules exist for a reason. Parking in restricted areas, performing u-turns, driving the wrong way down one-way streets and a multitude of other offences are punished because they can cause inconvenience and harm to other road users.
So however drivers are caught, I'm afraid that I have little sympathy.
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